The Bucs are back in action tonight as they look to even this week’s series in Philadelphia. The Pens are on ROOT once again, and for the first time this year the Bucs have been completely bounced off the air. There’s no MLB Network broadcast. The only way to watch will be via the Phillies feed, which is of course blacked out on MLBTV and Extra Innings in the Pittsburgh area. Those in the ‘Burgh are stuck with radio tonight (93.7 FM).

It’s a battle of leftys tonight in Philly. Locke surprisingly has the better (basic) numbers in the early-going, but I don’t think any Pirate fan is a huge fan of this matchup. Jeff has generally been pretty shaky so far this season and had a big problem keeping the ball in the park in his last start against Atlanta. The Phillies aren’t as powerful of a team, but the ball can fly out of Citizens Bank pretty easily and the Phils still have some big threats in their lineup.

Hamels got off to a rough start this year but is certainly one of the top lefties in the game. In fact, he’s probably moved up into the position of the Phillies’ “ace” ahead of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. His first two starts of the year were pretty ugly but he seems to have settled down in his last two. The Bucs, of course, will shift their lineup as usual since Hamels is left handed.

Well well well. Brandon Inge is in Pittsburgh (Alex Presley was sent down to clear a spot on the roster) and gets the start over Pedro, who homered last night. Inge was a mere 9 for 60 during his rehab stint at Indianapolis and has been absolutely miserable at the plate in recent years. He’s on the team for his defense off the bench and “veteran presence” … which the Pirates also supposedly have with John McDonald. Meanwhile, poor Jordy Mercer has hit .303 in Indy so far and will stay there for the foreseeable future. Sigh.